Drought issues and the call of
duty
The scorching drought in
Sri Lanka's dry zone districts should drive home the now
familiar insight that this country too cannot escape the
relentlessly developing global environmental crisis.
Interestingly, the local drought coincides with the Rio + 20
world environmental summit which highlighted the need for, among
other things, the greening of planet earth. Not so long ago, the
world was warned by environmentalists that extremes in weather
conditions could be an ominous sign of the severe environmental
harm earth is suffering and this seems to be coming to pass the
world over.
Hardly two years ago, torrential rains lashed Sri Lanka
severely, leaving behind a trail of destruction. The country has
hardly recovered from this trauma when today it is finding
itself in the throes of a most vicious drought, which is making
emergency relief operations essential in particularly our dry
zone areas. These extreme changes in climatic conditions, we are
told, point cogently to the dire consequences of environmental
destruction, brought about by man himself.
While coping strategies need to be quickly evolved to meet
this crisis, it is gladdening to note that President Mahinda
Rajapaksa is quickly on to the job of providing relief for those
hit by the drought, particularly our farming population. There
are numerous inter-related tasks that need to be performed in
double quick time, such as, provision of compensation and relief
to drought-hit farmers, ensuring that they avail of a fair share
of water for irrigation and drinking purposes and the
rejuvenation of tanks and waterways. So wide-ranging are these
chores that the 'Representatives of the People' cannot look
forward to any prolonged rest from the labours that are expected
of them at this crucial juncture.
Our front page picture yesterday of President Rajapaksa
addressing a high-powered conference of ministers and officials
helped convey the gravity of the drought and connected issues
and highlighted the fact that the poor of the drought-hit areas
need assistance very badly. In fact, almost the entirety of the
state machinery would need to go to the assistance of the
people.
President Rajapaksa lost no time in indicating to his
administration the tasks that need to be performed and we hope
that the affected sections of our people would be substantially
succoured by their representatives in Parliament and other
officials who are expected to serve their legitimate interests.
There are widespread hardships in the dry zone areas and the
degree to which these regions are being scorched by the drought
is visible to the naked eye. Water is one of the most urgent of
human needs and the relevant MPs and other officials would need
to be present in the affected parts of the country almost
continuously to ensure that the needs of the people are met.
In other words, MPs and state officials would need to answer
the call of duty with exceptional alacrity from now on. The next
monsoon rains are not round the corner and none in positions of
authority could downplay the importance of fending for the
people conscientiously, with whatever resources that are
available. The gravity of the drought is conveyed by the falling
water levels in our reservoirs and our MPs would need to live up
fully to the images that the people usually have of them and go
more than the extra mile to ensure that both, human and animal,
make it through this grueling drought.
We need to 'revisit' these seeming home truths because the
public perception is that the average MP and top public official
are not doing enough to ensure the wellbeing of the people. The
cynical-minded often question the readiness of our politicians
in particular to help the people in their time of need, whereas,
although at election time the politician waxes lyrical about his
willingness to help the people, this is hardly seen in real
life. The average citizen cannot be blamed for holding these
perceptions because the politicians genuinely working for the
public weal are very few and far between.
Therefore, the drought needs to be seen as a touchstone of
the politician's and public official's ability to serve the
people. Could these personnel go more than the extra mile on
behalf of the people? Could they translate lip-service into
concrete acts of help? The drought, then, has a positive side to
it, in that it could be seen whether our 'public servants' could
act in ways that will enable affirmative answers to be given to
these vital questions. |